Mounting plate for outboard motors



Oct. 10, 1961 H. E.wooLBR1GHT 3,003,725

MOUNTING PLATE FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed May 18. 1959 Fl'g. 4

INVENTOR Henry E. Woolbr/'ghf A-TTORNEY S United States Patent Ofiice 3,003,725 Patented Oct. 10, 1961 V3,003,725 MOUNTING PLATE FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Henry E. Woolbright, Irving, Tex. (1232 Dumont Drive, Richardson, Tex.) Filed May 18, 1959, Ser. No. 813,993 1 Claim. (Cl. 248-4) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in mounting plates for outboard motors.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved plate for mounting an outboard motor on the transom of a boat which is adapted to coact with the mounting clamp of the 'motor for preventing accidental dislodging and loss of the motor.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mounting plate, of the character described, which is so constructed that upward movement of the secured clamp is resisted by increasiug the frictional engagement of the plate with said clamp.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved mounting plate, of the character described, which has its major portion spaced from 'a boat transom by its upper portion being offset toward and secured to the transom whereby the major portion of the plate is inclined relative to the transom when frctionally engaged by the clamp and constantly exerts tension against the clamp as well as present a wedge surface thereto for resisting upward displacement thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mounting plate of the character described, wherein its major portion has upright protuberances which project from its inner side for engagement with the boat transom and the projection of which increases upwardly to reinforce and prevent fiattening of the major portion of the plate.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter descn'bed, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a mounting plate, constructed in accordance with the invention, secured to the transom of a boat and engaged by one of the clamp screws of an outboard motor,

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the secured plate with the engaged clamp being shown in broken lines,

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the secured plate without the clamp,

FIG. 4 is a transverse, Vertical, sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2, with the engaged clamp being shown in full lines, and

FIG. 5 is a horizontal, cross-scctional view, taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 20.

In the drawing, the numeral designates a plate embodying the features of the invention for mounting an outboard motor on the transom 11 of a boat in coaction with the clamp 12 of the motor. The clamp 12 is of the usual construction and includes a pair of adjustable screws 13, only one of which is shown, having enlarged heads 14 swiveled on their inner ends for clamping engagement with the transom 11. One of the plates 10 is provided for each clamp screw 13 and is adapted to be engaged by its head 14.

Each mountng plate lis substantially rectangular and is formed of relatively thin metal having suflicient resiliency to resist Permanent deformation. The plate includes a body or major portion 15 having an offset flange or portion 16 at its upper margin for fastening to the transom 11 and spacing the body therefrom (FIG. 3). Preferably, the flange 16 is provided by bending the entire upper marlies and is substantially parallel to said body and whereby the plate is substantially J-shaped. A plurality of openings 17 are formed in the flange for receving screws 18 to secure the plate to the transom and the body has registering openings 19 to accommodate and permit access to the heads of the screws 18. When the fiange is fastened to the transom, the body is `disposed in substantially parallel relation to said transom prior to engagement by the swivelled head 14 of the clamp screw 13 (FIG. 3).

In order to reinforce and resist flattening of the body 15 .upon clamping engagement by the screw head 14, a plurality of upright ribs or elongated protuberances 20 are provided on the inner or rear surface of said body by forming grooves or recesses 21 in its outer or front surface. The ribs 20 are dsposed in parallel, spaced relation, being of much greater length than width 'and terminating above the lower margin of the body and below the lower margin of the fiange 16. Preferably, the ribs are three in number, have substantially fiat surfaces and are of a width slightly less than the space between adjacent ribs. It is noted that the inward offset or projection of the ribs is less than the offset of the flange whereby said ribs are spaced from and do not contact the transom 11 until the body is engaged by the clamp screw head 14. The projection of the ribs increases upwardly so that said ribs bear against the transom substantially throughout their lengths and the body is inclined relative to said transom With its lower margin in contact therewith when said body is engaged by the clamp screw head (FIGS. 4 and 5). Preferably, the dimensions and spacing of the ribs are such that the clamp screw head overlies at least one of said ribs or a portion thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 1 'and 4, the body 15 of the mounting plate is deformed inwardly relative to the flange 16 When clampingly engaged by the screw head 14. The lower margin of the body and substantially the entire areas of the ribs 20 bear against the transom 11. The remainder of the body is spaced from the transom and said body is inclined relative to said transom so as to present a wedge surface for resisting upward displacement of the clamp screw. Due to the deformation of the body, the plate is under compression and constantly exerts tension against the head of the clamp screw for maintaining said screw head in tight engagement with said body. The ribs provide a positive bearing for the body and prevent movement or other fluctuation thereof which might permit loosening and displacement of the screw as a result of vibration. In addition, the ribs exert a force which tends to straighten the deformed body. Although the plate is relatively stilf, its resiliency is suflicient to prevent permanent deformation of its body and said body resumes the position shown in FIG. 3 when the clamp is disengaged.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claim, Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A plate for mounting an outboard motor on the transom of a boat and coacting with the clamp screws of the motor including a substantially flat relatively thin body, an offset fiange at the upper portion of the body for fastening the plate to the transom with said body spaced therefrom, said body 'being inclined relative to the transom and having its lower portion in contact therewith when said body is engaged by one of the clamp screws of the motor whereby said body is deformed toward the transom upon tightening of the clamp screw and exerts a tension thereagainst to resist loosening thereof, a plurality of upright spaced ribs on the rear surface of said body for i 8,oo3,725 i i bearing against the transom when said bodyeis inclined References Cited in the file of this patent relative to the transom and has its lower portion in contact therevw'th, the ribs increasing in projection upwardly UNITED STATES PATENTS so that substantially the entire length of said ribs bear 1,450,183 Moon Apr. 3, 1923 against the transom, said ribs renforc'ing said bdy and 5 2,660,385 Moran NOV- 24, 1953 preventing fiattening thereof by the clamp serew. 2,762,597 JaWOISk SCP 11, 1956 

